Device for serving subscribers with newspapers



R. D. LANDIS 2,156,858

DEVICE FOR SERVING SUBSCRIBERS WITH NEWSPAPERS May 2, 1939.

Filed Aug. 26, 1957 Patented May 2, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DEVICE FOR SERVING SUBSCRIBERS WITH NEWSPAPERS 1 Claim.

My invention consists in a new and useful improvement in device for serving subscribers with newspapers, and is designed more particularly for the service of newspapers and the collection of messages and subscription payments for a very large number of rural subscribers having their papers served at isolated delivery points along a very extended route.

By the use of the excellent main highways and the present type of high speed automobile, it has become a very common practice for the companies publishing daily and Sunday newspapers to establish rural delivery routes for serving their papers to a very large number of subscribers living upon or contiguous to the highway along which the delivery vehicle can rapidly pass. In this method of serving papers, it is the present practice for the delivery agent to insert each paper into a receptacle, usually a metal tube, provided by the company serving the papers and set up at a point on the highway some convenient distance from the subscribers home. As the method is at present practiced, there are a very considerable number of difiiculties and disadvantages both to the subscriber and to the delivery agent. My improved device may be used to overcome the present difficulties and disadvantages.

My improved device, which I have fully illustrated in the drawing and have hereinafter fully described, comprises a tube substantially of the form of the tube now use, and has a pivoted cover provided with a lock, and a paper-receiving tray. My device is so constructed that the newspaper may be thrown into the tube and upon the tray and thereby cause the cover to close and become locked in closed position.

While I have illustrated in the drawing and have hereinafter fully described two specific embodiments of my invention, it is to be distinctly understood that I do not consider my invention limited to said specific embodiments and said description but refer for its scope to the claim appended hereto.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of my device opened.

Fig. 2 is a similar View of the receiving end in closed position after the newspaper has been received therein.

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view, similar to Fig. 2, of a modified form of my device in open position.

As illustrated in the drawing, my improved device comprises a tubular member I provided with any suitable means of support 2 and having its rear end closed by a plate 3. Its forward end is embraced by a collar 4 attached thereto by bolts 5. I provide a door 6 having on its outer face the sleeve I through which is loosely passed the pintle 5 pin 8 carried by the collar 4. It is to be understood and is obvious from the illustrations of my device in Figs. 1 and 2 that this pintle pin 8 is horizontally disposed below the horizontal diameter of the collar 4, thereby serving to pivotally l0 mount the door 6 out of equilibrium. It is also to be noted that the parts are so designed and related that when the door 6 swings upon the pin 8, the lower edge 6a of the door 6 clears the end Ia of the tube I while the upper edge 6bof the door 6 contacts the end Ia of the tube I. Within the tube I, I provide a tray 9 substantially semicircular in cross-section, and loosely fastened to the tube I by means of rivet II) at the rear end of the bottom of the tube l closely adjacent the 20 plate 3. At its forward end, the tray 9 is provided on its under-side with a counterpoise II and a depending rod I2 passing through the bottom of the tube I and having an enlarged head I2. I provide on the inner face of the door 6 a finger 25 I3 so disposed as to co-operate with the outer end 90. of the tray 9. I provide on the outer face of the door 6 adjacent its top a suitable form of key-actuated lock I4, the obliquely faced bolt I4 of which is received into the catch I5 on the 30 collar 4.

In Fig. 4, I have illustrated a modified form or my device in which the tube III has at its open end 2 Ia a door 22 hinged thereto by the hinge 23 and provided with a spring 24 adapted to retain 35 the door 22 in open position against the stop 2'5 on the end Zla of the tube 2|. The door 22 is provided with a suitable form of key-actuated lock 26, the obliquely faced bolt 26 of which is received into the catch 21 on the end 2Ia of the 40 tube 2i.

From the foregoing description of the details of construction of my device, its operation and use in the practice of my improved method will be obvious. 45

At suitable points along the delivery routes, my improved devices are suitably mounted. The paper server travelling along the route tosses a paper into each receptacle, and the paper resting upon the tray 9 depresses it thereby causing the 50 door 6 to swing upwardly and thereby engage the bolt I4 with the catch I5, securely locking the paper P within the tube I. The subscriber or his authorized agent can then at his own convenience unlock the door 6 and remove the paper P. 55

Should the paper server, on reaching a certain receptacle, find the door 6 closed, he will thereby be notified of the presence in the tube of a sum of money in payment for the paper or a message from the subscriber. The server unlocks the device, secures the money or message, and places the paper in the device.

In the form of the device, illustrated in Fig. 4, the spring operated door 22 also serves as a signal means to indicate to the server, if closed, the presence of money or message. In this form, the door 22 is manually operated after the paper, money or message has been placed in the tube 2 l. Having described my invention, what I claim 1s:

In a device for serving newspapers, the combination of a tubular member, closed at one end and open at the other end; a pintle pin horizontally disposed transversely of said member at its open end, and below the horizontal diameter off said member; a sleeve loosely embracing said pin; a door mounted on said sleeve; a tray pivotally mounted adjacent the closed end of said member and extending to the open end; a rod attached to said tray and passing through the bottom of said member; and a finger on the inner face of said door, the door and tray being so related that when the tray is raised by means of the rod it engages the finger, unbalancing the door to cause it to fall open, and when the tray is depressed by imposition of a weight thereupon, its end engages the door to overbalance the weight of the door and close it.

RANKIN D. LANDIS. 

